Overshoe for horses.



'No..759,636. PATENTED MAY 1-0, 190i J.T.RYAN.

OVERSHOE FOR HORSES. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1903.

"ii-W N0 MODEL,

fizgaaaax j flaw/ 72207 Patented May 10, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. RYAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

OVERSHOE FOR HORSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,636, dated May 10,1904.

Application filed August 27, 1903.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN T. RYAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at St..Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Horses Over-shoes, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghadto the accompanymgdrawmgs, forming part ofthis specification, inwhich Figure 1 is a sectional view of my improvedhorse-overshoe inposition on a horses foot. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the overshoedetached, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the insole or pad removed.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an overshoedesigned particularly to be applied to the feet of horses, the objectbeing to construct a shoe of the character described which can bequickly and easily applied, and which when in position will provide asoft pad desirable in cases where horses feet are sore.

The object of my present invention is to construct the overshoe in thestandard sizes and of flexible material, such as rubber or leather, theshoe, if made of rubber, being reinforced by canvas or other similarfabric. This shoe is designed to hold in position a soft pad, which maybe either rubber or felt, the pad conforming to the shape and contour ofthe foot. These pads or insoles are also preferably made in standardsizes, and being separable from the overshoe may be separately shaped tofit a horses foot, the operator trying the insole in its designedposition to determine whether or not it properly its the foot before theshoe is applied to hold the insole in position. Of course the operatorcan deepen the recess of the insole to accommodate the frog or otherwiseshape and manipulate the insole for the purpose of nicely fitting it toa particular foot of a horse. WV hen the proper insole is adjusted tothe foot, it is inserted. in the overshoe and the overshoe applied inposition. The overshoe may be either low-laced, if it is desired toavoid interference with the action of the horse, or the uppers of theovershoe may be extended to provide a Serial No. 170,907. (No model.)

high-laced shoe. The sole of the overshoe is preferably roughened orprovided with projections, so as to avoid slipping.

WVith these objects in view the invention consists in the construction,arrangement, and combination of the several parts, all as willhereinafter be described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, in which I have represented the foot of a horse with myimproved device in position thereon, 1 indicates a soft pad or insole,which is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This insole is recessed at 2 toreceive the frog of the foot. I prefer that the upper face of the insolefit snugly against the under side of the foot whether or not a shoe ispresent on the foot, as by so doing there is less liability of theinsole gettingloose, due to the yielding nature of the material of whichit is composed, and where this material is impervious-as, for instance,where soft rubber is used--a suction is created which will hold theinsole in position. This insole is preferably fitted in position on thefoot of the horse before the overshoe is put on, and when the insole isproperly shaped to lit the bottom of the foot it is inserted in theovershoe and the overshoe applied.

The overshoe is cnp-shaped with a contracted month, which is designed tobe slightly spread apartin being introduced upon the foot. The bottom ofthe overshoe (indicated at 5) is preferably roughened and is solid,forming a substantial support throughout the entire area of the insole.The edges 6 of the overshoe are integral with the bottom and are shapedto tit snugly on all sides of the foot, the upper extremity of the edgesat the sides and front being inclined inwardly to form a contractedmouth, which hugs the hoof. The back of the shoe is extended up shortlyabove the heel portion of the foot and is provided withforwardly-extending straps, one of which is provided with a buckle, sothat the shoe may be secured in position. One of these straps 7 may passthrough a loop 8, extending upwardly from the front portion of theshoe-upper. If desired the upper of the shoe may extend up higher thanis shown in the drawings in order to make a high-laced shoe. In thismanner the shoe will protect the ankle and avoid the evil effects of theanimal striking or interfering in action.

In order that the back or counter of the shoe will maintain aconformation similar to the conformation of the foot of the animal, astiffening-piece 9 is provided, which is interposed between the innerand outer walls of the counter, said stiffener being of approximatelythe form of the rear portion of a horses foot, so that when the shoe isin its applied position the stiffened portion will assist in retainingthe shoe in place.

From the above it will be seen that the shoe when in position on thehorse is held firmly in place, suction assisting in holding the shoe inposition. The shoe or sandal, having a level bearing and a stiff counterin the back, with a strap buckled in front of the hoof just below theaction of the joint, will not interfere with the movement of the ankleand provides a natural protective covering for the hoof. Anotheradvantage resulting from the peculiar arrangement of the stiffener 9 isthat it extends down below the hoof of the animal and is approximatelyparallel with the edge of the pad 1, so that when the hoof is in contactwith the pad the spreading of said pad and the resistance offered by thestiffener will cause it to be firmly held in position and will preventexcessive spreading, so as not to distort the shape of the overshoe. Theshoe can be used on the feet of driving-horses having smooth shoes andwill protect the feet and shoulders from jars due to traveling on hardstreets. The insole being smooth, flat, soft, and level will accommodateany rouglmess on the bottom of the shod horse, the inequalitiesembedding themselves into the soft insole and by so doing will insureeven wearing on the bottom of the overshoe. The overshoe has a rolledroughened edge over the entire area of its lower surface to preventslipping and give good wearing qualities. If desired, a sheet of leadout to the pattern of the insole can be placed under the insole to giveweight to the sole in training trotting horses.

I am aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement, andcombination of the several parts of my device can be made andsubstituted for those herein shown and described Without in the leastdeparting from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an overshoe for horses, the combination with an insole made ofyielding material, of an overshoe having a solid bottom for supportingthe insole in position, and a flexible upper for embracing the hoof, astiffener carried in the back of the overshoe and having a dependingportion extending below the line of the bottom of the hoof and parallelwith one edge of the pad to prevent excessive spreading thereof;substantially as described.

2. In a shoe for horses, the combination with an insole shaped to snuglyfit the bottom of the hoof, of a shoe having a solid bottom forsupporting the insole in position and having an integral upper extendingfrom its edges which is inclined inwardly at the sides and front tosnugly embrace the hoof, an extension at the back, a stiffener carriedby the extension, said stiffener conforming to the shape of the adjacentportion of the hoof to assist in holding the shoe in place and having adepending end approximately parallel with the edge of the insole for thepurpose described; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature,in the presence oftwo witnesses,this th day of August, 1903.

JOHN T. RYAN.

Witnesses:

EMMA RYAN, F. R. CORNWALL.

